Dead bodies prompt war on blackberries

The site where two dead bodies were found over the past year is set to change.

Police Chief Brian Bowles has spearheaded an interagency project to clean up Yreka Creek and promote a safer environment for the people of Yreka to enjoy.

The undertaking has no official name, but Bowles has dubbed it the Blackberry Project since “most of the vegetation that needs to be cleared is blackberry bush.”

Bowles said Jeanette Hook, administrative assistant for the city of Yreka, was instrumental in getting local agencies on board. CAL FIRE, the Yreka Fire Department, Yreka Public Works, Siskiyou County Jail, California Conservation Corps, Yreka Creek Greenway Committee and Siskiyou County Agriculture Department have all offered to help.

“Overall, the goal is to make Yreka Creek safe by removing vegetation, debris and unauthorized persons from the area,” Bowles said.

According to Bowles, the project will start by focusing on three zones. Zone 1 runs from past Deer Creek Way to near the old Ray’s Food Place building. Zone 2 consists of Westside Road to just beyond the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds, and Zone 3 is from Oberlin Road to the area of Miner Street.

Additional zones will be taken on as the project continues.

“We’re trying it in zones because we’ve never done a project like this with so many different agencies and so many different goals to accomplish,” Bowles said.

YPD’s major goal is to remove the dense vegetation from the area, providing police greater visibility in the hopes of preventing crimes.

Zone 1 represents a high priority for YPD. The area contains the vicinity of Deer Creek Way where the remains of Christopher Scott Schafer, a 43-year-old transient, and Henry S. Cooper, a 62-year-old homeless man and registered sex offender, were discovered.

Both cases were ruled homicides, and the investigations remain active.

“I think it’ll be a much safer place for people to go once we have a high visibility in the creek,” Bowles said.

CAL FIRE and the Yreka Fire Department will be focusing their efforts on fire hazard restrictions.

The Yreka Creek Committee wants to remove invasive species like the blackberries but retain native plants, so the creek becomes more habitable for native animals and a more pleasurable experience for recreational visitors.

“We have had a long-standing issue with blackberries,” said Jerry Mosier, Yreka Creek Committee chairman, adding that Bowles’ project seemed a “win-win.”

Mosier said he came on board the project to advise on retaining native vegetation for ecological functionality and aesthetic beauty.

Fellow greenway member and biologist Sam Cuenca advised on habitat.

Bowles and Mosier said part of the project will reintroduce native species of plants to the area once the invasive ones have been reduced.

Page 2 of 2 - “We’re a high desert, so that creek is very important,” Mosier said. “The ecology will be healthier with this stuff gone, and it will be a safer and more functional place for people too.”

To make the restoration effort more comprehensive, Bowles is hoping property owners along the creek will allow the group access. He said he sent letters seeking authorization to allow cleaning crews to remove blackberry bushes, trim trees and brush, and remove garbage and unwanted people from the area. The services will be provided at no cost to the property owner, he said.

Bowles said he is not sure how long the Blackberry Project will take, but he is hoping to see results by late spring.

“It’s not something we’re trying to force on people,” Bowles said. “It’s just an effort to make Yreka a little cleaner, more beautiful and safer to benefit the entire